Dear Prabhujis and Matajis,
Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble pranams! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev.
The main objective of devotional service is to attain Krishna Prema which is on the topmost ladder of the devotional service. In order to attain we have to go through the various process of devotional service. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 9.2, "su-sukhaṁ kartum" - devotional service is joyfully performed. However, as we perform our devotional service with various anarthas,it is not so blissful.
One of the main anarthas is the subtle desire for name and fame. Every human being has this tendency and that is the reason people are performing extraordinary feats for obtaining name and fame. We tend to do our devotional service also with a motive so that we can obtain name and fame. This is called sa kāma bhakti. We should endeavor to improve ourselves to the platform of uttama bhakti, which is defined by Rupa Goswami as follows.
anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu- śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā
One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Krishna favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service.
In his Manah Siksha, verse 7, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami says that " The despicable desire for material honor and distinction is compared to a shameless and low born prostitute who eats dog meat - yet she is flagrantly dancing in my heart. How then can the pristine love of pure devotion to Sri Krishna ever find a place in my heart? "
Srila Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thakura, to teach us, criticizes his own mind and asks, "Why are you after fame? Don't you know it is as worthless as the dung of a boar?" So how to overcome this desire for fame? The acharyas are very merciful in giving us the solution, for removing such subtle desires.
In Manah Sisksha, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami gives a clear way to get out of this pratishtā āshā. We have to serve the unalloyed devotees of the Lord, who are his intimate associates and stalwart supporters. They alone can drive out this prostitute and enthrone the pure love of Godhead within our hearts. By offering prayers at the lotus feet of our beloved spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, and Lord Shri Krishna and by our sincere endeavors, it is possible to curb this subtle desire.
Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev,
Sajjana Priya Krishna das
Abu Dhabi.
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